8.

3 INFINITE SERIES OF CONSTANT TERMS

Definition: If {un} is a sequence and sn = u1 + u2 + ... + un, then the sequence {sn} is called an infinite
series. This infinite series is denoted by
+∝

∑u
i =1
n = u1 + u2 + ... + un

The numbers u1, u2, ..., un are called terms of the infinite series. The numbers s1, s2, ..., sn are called
the partial sums of the infinite series.

Example:
{ un } = { n+1 }
{ 2, 3, 4, 5, ... }

s 1 = u1 = 2
s 2 = u1 + u2 = 2 + 3 = 5
s 3 = u1 + u2 + u3 = 2 + 3 + 4 = 9

{sn} = { 2, 5, 9, ... }
+∝
S= ∑u
i =1
i = u1 + u2 + ... + un = 2 + 3 + 4 + ...

+∞
Definition: Let ∑u
n =1
n be a given infinite series, and let {sn} be the sequence of partial sum defining

this infinite series. If lim s n = S , we say that the given series is convergent and that S is the sum of
n → +∞

the given infinite series. If lim s n = DNE , the series is said to be divergent and the series does not
n→ +∞
have a sum.

+∞
Theorem: If the infinite series ∑u
n =1
n is convergent, then lim u n = 0 .
n→ +∞

Proof: Let {sn} be the sequence of partial sums for the given series and denote the sum of the series by
S.

+∝
Since ∑u n =1
n is convergent,

lim s n = S
n → +∞

lim s n−1 = S
n → +∞

lim (s n − s n −1 ) = 0 = lim U n
n → +∞ n→∞

Harmonic Series:
+∞
1 1 1
∑ n = 1 + 2 + ... + n + ... → divergent
n =1
Euler’s Constant:
 1 1 1 
lim 1 + + + ... + − ln n  = γ ≈ 0.577
 2 3
n → +∞ n 

Geometric Series: If the ratio of successive terms in a series in constant, the series is called a
+∞
geometric series. That is, the series has the form ∑ ar
n =1
n −1
= a + ar + ar 2 + ... + ar n −1 + ... where a and

1− rn
r are any constants. The nth partial sum is given by s n =a .
1− r

a
Theorem: The geometric series converges to the sum if |r| < 1 and diverges if |r| ≥ 1. Thus,
1− r
+∞
a
∑ ar
n =1
n −1
=
1− r
if |r| < 1.

Telescopic Sum:
+∞

∑ (a
n =1
n −1 − a n ) = (a 0 − a1 ) + (a1 − a 2 ) + (a 2 − a 3 ) + ... + (a n −1 − a n ) = a 0 − a n

Theorems:
+∞ +∞
1. If ∑a
n =1
n and ∑b n =1
n are two infinite series differing only in their first m terms (ie. a k = bk if k>

m), then either both series converge or both series diverge.

2. Let c be a nonzero constant

+∞ +∞
i. If the series ∑ u n is convergent and its sum is S, then the series
n =1
∑ cu
n =1
n is also convergent

and its sum is cS.

+∞ +∞
ii. If the series ∑ u n is divergent, then the series
n =1
∑ cu
n =1
n is also divergent.

+∞ +∞
3. If ∑a
n =1
n and ∑b
n =1
n are convergent infinite series whose sums are R and S respectively, then

+∞
i. ∑ (a
n =1
n + bn ) is a convergent series and its sum is R + S.
+∞
ii. ∑ (a
n =1
n − bn ) is a convergent series and its sum is R – S.

+∞ +∞ +∞
4. If the series ∑ an is convergent and the series
n =1
∑ bn is divergent, then the series
n =1
∑ (a
n =1
n + bn ) is
divergent.